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Two new Omega Seamasters celebrates 60 years of 007’s on-screen debut

To celebrate 60 years of James Bond making his cinematic debut, Omega has unveiled the new Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Stainless Steel, and a bejewelled version in Canopus Gold™, which captures the essence of both the spy and his memorable movies.
The story of how the world’s most famous spy came to wear an Omega is an interesting one. While it was in 1962 that James Bond debuted on the silver screen, in Dr. No starring Sean Connery, it was only in 1995, in GoldenEye, that Pierce Brosnan flaunted an Omega. This was thanks to Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning costume designer who “was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear this watch.” Historically this would make sense. Omega had delivered more than 110,000 watches to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) to issue to pilots, navigators and soldiers during World War II, and the Seamaster 300, originally released in 1957, was also given to military divers around the world. Ten years later, second generation Seamaster 300s was also delivered to the MoD. So it would stand true that Bond would have been issued an Omega watch. 

Amongst 25 Bond flicks, nine have had him wear an Omega, across the Seamaster 300M Quartz, Seamaster 300M Chronometer, Seamaster Diver 300, Seamaster Planet Ocean, and Seamaster Aqua Terra. It is no surprise then that the Bond association is an important part of Omega’s legacy. To celebrate this very association, today, in the 60th year of Bond’s cinematic debut, Omega has unveiled its new 007 watch – the Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Stainless Steel. 

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Stainless Steel

Fittingly, the watch is inspired by the very first one that Pierce Brosnan wore on screen. The 42mm stainless steel watch has a bezel and dial made from blue oxalic anodized aluminium, with the dial featuring laser-engraved waves. The diving scale is filled with white Super-LumiNova, with blue luminescence, while the ‘60’, instead of the inverted triangle, has green luminescence, similar to the minute hand.

The luminescence on the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Stainless Steel

Though it is the caseback where the drama is. Replicating the opening sequence of any Bond movie, one sees Bond in silhouette and a spinning gun barrel design. The sapphire glass also features ‘60 007’ and ‘Diver 300M’.  Underneath is the movement decorated with micro-structured metallisation. Powering it is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806. The mesh bracelet that flanks the watch is in the same style as James Bond’s OMEGA watch in No Time To Die. The watch is presented in a blue wooden box in the original Diver 300M wave pattern, with three dots inspired by the classic Bond opening title sequence, including a secret push button on the right. 

The caseback

Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Canopus Gold™
Another watch released on this occassion is more precious and bejewelled – the Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Canopus Gold™, a 42mm in a white gold alloy known for its brilliant shine and long-lasting effect. Paying obeisance to the beautiful sands of James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s home country Jamaica, the dial has been made from natural grey silicon, whose crystallites ensure that each dial of this watch is unique, and the bezel is paved with green and yellow treated natural diamonds, in shades of extra dark forest green to cognac. The caseback and bracelet are similar to the steel version, and the watch is powered by the luxury Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8807. 

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond Canopus Gold™

The watch is presented in a mango tree box with mother-of-pearl marquetry and a 60 Years of Bond logo. Both of these are reminiscent of Dr No - the use of mango tree references a famous song from the first James Bond film, while the mother-of-pearl is a nod to the shells of Crab Key, a location in the movie. 

Images: Courtesy Omega
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